Dowes Wealth

01/06/2026

Why bonds are back in the spotlight – and why it matters

Bonds are back in the headlines, with political uncertainty driving fresh volatility in what is usually seen as a steadier part of the market. But why does this matter for investors? We answer some of the key questions.

Backdrop: When governments need to borrow money to fund expenses, they generally do so by issuing bonds. In the UK, government bonds are known as ‘gilts’. Each gilt will pay a regular amount of interest over the course of its life, which is called the coupon, with higher interest rates charged for bonds seen as ‘less safe’.

The amount an investor earns lending to the government on a 10-year gilt has risen sharply in recent months to 5%, a level not seen for years and a sign of investor unease. Likewise, the yield on a 30-year gilt is close to 6%, a level not seen since 1998.

Why are gilt yields rising?
Investors hate uncertainty, but the UK currently has it in bucket loads. The Labour party leadership contest is raising fears that the government’s already weak finances will be put under further strain should candidates promise to spend more in a bid to woo voters.

The Iran war is making things worse. Energy prices worldwide have risen sharply, and the UK is particularly vulnerable as it imports much of what it needs. This feeds through into higher costs for households and businesses. The result is that domestic inflation has risen notably. As well as uncertainty, bond investors hate inflation as it erodes their returns. As a result, they demand higher compensation to hold gilts, which means higher yields.

To read more click on the link below:

Investors hate uncertainty, but the UK currently has it in bucket loads. The Labour party leadership contest is raising fears that the government’s already weak finances will be put under further strain should candidates promise to spend more in a bid to woo voters.

29/05/2026

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/european-neighbours-day/

European Neighbours' Day 2026 falls on Friday 29 May 2026. Discover the history, meaning, and ways to celebrate. Full guide.

27/05/2026

Saving and investing for children and grandchildren

Most long-term investment options for children and grandchildren, such as junior ISAs, personal pensions and accounts held in trust, are subject to specific access rules.

Savings accounts may be more suitable, particularly if money is likely to be needed in the short term.

Parents and grandparents should consider making full use of a child’s available allowances where appropriate, while keeping their own estate planning goals in mind.

Many parents worry that their children will struggle to find their financial feet in the current environment. Concerns include the flagging jobs market and inadequate retirement savings. Meanwhile, high house prices make it increasingly difficult to take the first step onto the property ladder. These are all factors driving fears that younger generations will face a tougher financial future.

However, there are a variety of investment and saving tools for parents and grandparents who want to support children and grandchildren in building financial foundations. Here we explore some of the main options available.

Time (and allowances) on your side
One of the biggest advantages of saving and investing for the next generations is time. As there is a longer time frame to save and invest, children and grandchildren can benefit from the power of compounding. This is where reinvested interest or growth has the potential to generate further growth over the long term.

Children who are UK resident are entitled to their own tax allowances. In the 2026/27 tax year, they can earn up to £12,570 without paying income tax. Capital gains tax (CGT) is only payable on gains above £3,000.

Children may also benefit from a personal savings allowance of £1,000 in the 2026/27 tax year, as well as up to £5,000 under the starting rate for savings. The starting rate for savings tapers away by £1 for every £1 of income over the personal allowance of £12,570.

However, there is one main caveat to these thresholds for children. If the income generated is from money given to the child by a parent, then different rules and limits apply.

By combining a long investment time horizon with these allowances, parents and grandparents can build meaningful nest eggs for the future generations.

Junior individual savings account
As with an adult ISA, any growth, interest or income in a junior ISA (JISA) is free from income tax and CGT.

All children have an annual JISA limit, which is £9,000 for the 2026/27 tax year. JISA subscriptions can be in stocks and shares, cash or a combination of both up to the total overall limit.

Only a parent or legal guardian can open a JISA for their children, but anyone can pay into it once it is set up. The account belongs to the child, but money in a JISA cannot be accessed until they reach the age of 18. At 18, the child has full legal control over their JISA money.

Because of their tax-efficient status, JISAs can be a powerful tool in helping fund future goals such as education costs or a first step into the property ladder. But the rules around when the money can be accessed should also be taken into consideration.

To read more click on the link below:

Many parents worry that their children will struggle to find their financial feet in the current environment. Concerns include the flagging jobs market and inadequate retirement savings. Meanwhile, high house prices make it increasingly difficult to take the first step onto the property ladder. Thes...

22/05/2026

Have a lovely bank holiday weekend everyone! 😊

Spring Bank Holiday 2026 falls on Monday 25 May 2026. Discover the history, meaning, and ways to celebrate. Full guide.

20/05/2026

Saving and investing for children and grandchildren

Most long-term investment options for children and grandchildren, such as junior ISAs, personal pensions and accounts held in trust, are subject to specific access rules.

Savings accounts may be more suitable, particularly if money is likely to be needed in the short term.
Parents and grandparents should consider making full use of a child’s available allowances where appropriate, while keeping their own estate planning goals in mind.

Many parents worry that their children will struggle to find their financial feet in the current environment. Concerns include the flagging jobs market and inadequate retirement savings. Meanwhile, high house prices make it increasingly difficult to take the first step onto the property ladder. These are all factors driving fears that younger generations will face a tougher financial future.

However, there are a variety of investment and saving tools for parents and grandparents who want to support children and grandchildren in building financial foundations. Here we explore some of the main options available.

Time (and allowances) on your side
One of the biggest advantages of saving and investing for the next generations is time. As there is a longer time frame to save and invest, children and grandchildren can benefit from the power of compounding. This is where reinvested interest or growth has the potential to generate further growth over the long term.

Children who are UK resident are entitled to their own tax allowances. In the 2026/27 tax year, they can earn up to £12,570 without paying income tax. Capital gains tax (CGT) is only payable on gains above £3,000.

Children may also benefit from a personal savings allowance of £1,000 in the 2026/27 tax year, as well as up to £5,000 under the starting rate for savings. The starting rate for savings tapers away by £1 for every £1 of income over the personal allowance of £12,570.

However, there is one main caveat to these thresholds for children. If the income generated is from money given to the child by a parent, then different rules and limits apply.

By combining a long investment time horizon with these allowances, parents and grandparents can build meaningful nest eggs for the future generations.

To read more click on the link below:

Many parents worry that their children will struggle to find their financial feet in the current environment. Concerns include the flagging jobs market and inadequate retirement savings. Meanwhile, high house prices make it increasingly difficult to take the first step onto the property ladder. Thes...

18/05/2026

Financial Health Report: Financial resilience falls but a plan can boost confidence

More than one third of people (34%) say their financial situation has worsened over the past 12 months, compared to just 17% who say it has improved.
Those with a financial plan are three times more likely than those without a plan to report their financial situation has improved (31% versus 9%).

Among those who have been investing for five years or more, seven in 10 (71%) say their wealth has increased over the past decade.

Households are feeling less resilient and finances have worsened over the past 12 months, against a backdrop of continued cost of living pressures and global turmoil. These are the findings of St. James's Place’s fifth Financial Health Report, published today, 14 May.

Read the full 2026 Financial Health Report here.

But despite the marked drop in optimism, one trend has remained consistent throughout the years of the survey – those who actively engage with their finances experience better outcomes when it comes to their money. The research shows that taking a long-term approach, through planning and investing, tends to lead to higher levels of wealth and financial resilience.

Households feel increased financial pressure
With more than one third of people (34%) reporting their finances have worsened over the past year (up from 31% in 2025), and one in five (21%) saying they are struggling financially, the latest Financial Health report from St. James's Place paints a picture of significant financial difficulties for many households in challenging economic times. Two in five (40%) say worrying about their finances has negatively affected their mental health.

The survey, conducted by Opinium among 6,000 adults1, found fewer people now describe themselves as financially comfortable, compared to 12 months ago (37% in 2026 compared to 42% in 2025).

Financial resilience has also fallen, with 61% of people saying they feel resilient now, compared to 65% last year.

Cost of living pressures continue to be the main factor squeezing household finances. Seven in ten people (69%) say rising costs, in particular food prices, are putting a strain on their budget.

Many people also have limited financial buffers available to them. Two fifths of people (38%) say they have less than £10,000 in savings, investments and possessions, and 14% have no wealth at all.

To read more click on the link below:

Households are feeling less resilient and finances have worsened over the past 12 months, against a backdrop of continued cost of living pressures and global turmoil. These are the findings of St. James's Place’s fifth Financial Health Report, published today, 14 May.

15/05/2026

We welcome Georgia Molloy to the Practice as our new technical administrator, strengthening our existing administration support. Georgia has a Maths and Business degree and is passionate about the best client outcomes, providing a key role in supporting Ewan.

In her spare time, Georgia likes hiking and is currently learning how to crochet!

Welcome to the team! 😊

13/05/2026

The special K-shaped economy

In recent years, the gap between rich and poor has been growing in the US.
With consumer spending an important part of the US economy, this gap is a potential vulnerability.

Since 2024, poorer households have been harder hit by inflation and a slowdown in wage growth.

The American dream is beginning to look more tarnished. The US-Iran war, combined with volatile and unpredictable behaviour by the US president and his administration, have taken the shine off. Meanwhile the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ is growing ever larger. We look at what this might mean for investments in the region.

In 18th Century France, when told peasants couldn’t afford bread, Queen Marie-Antoinette supposedly said, ‘let them eat cake.’ This oft-repeated tale never actually happened, but its popularity highlights the wealth disparity the country faced in the lead up to the revolution.
Fast forward over 200 years, and the US has supplanted France as the world’s greatest power. Thankfully, centuries of progress mean the levels of deprivation found back then are no longer so widespread in the world’s leading economies.

However, the wealth disparity between the haves and have nots has been growing in recent years. Currently, the bottom 50% of the population hold just 2.5% of the total US net worth.

Since Covid, the US economy has been one of the highlights of the global economy. It has managed impressive growth, undaunted by a growing national debt pile and international pressures.

The question is, could this inequality become a threat to the longer-term growth story?

The virtuous ‘have’ cycle
One of the defining trends of the post-pandemic period has been the performance of equity markets. Following a drop at the start of the pandemic, equities recovered relatively quickly and then seemed to go from strength to strength (although the Iran conflict has somewhat muddied the picture since it began).

Until relatively recently, US equities were among the best performing markets.

This has been partly driven by a consumer base that left the pandemic with greater savings than they went into it with. Wealthier families built up notably larger savings buffers, allowing them to continue spending even when times get tough. This keeps the US economy growing and equities rising.

Those same household groups are also likely to hold investments. As they spent, equity prices went up, meaning the wealth of the better-off households grew as a whole.

In other words, spending by wealthy households helped push up prices. These same households then benefit from the equity performance their spending is helping generate, further boosting their wealth. In recent years, this has formed a virtuous circle for better-off households.

In comparison, those in lower income brackets may still be spending, but they lack the savings buffer and are less likely to hold substantial investments. Consequently, they benefit less, proportionally, from a strong stock market.

To read more click on the link below:

Fast forward over 200 years, and the US has supplanted France as the world’s greatest power. Thankfully, centuries of progress mean the levels of deprivation found back then are no longer so widespread in the world’s leading economies.

11/05/2026

Renters’ Rights Act: What landlords need to know

The Renters’ Rights Act brings in fundamental changes for private landlords in England. No fault evictions (section 21 evictions) are banned. Rent can only be increased once a year and with two months’ written notice. Landlords can only request a maximum of one month’s rent in advance of a tenancy starting.

Landlords, and agents, must send a copy of the government’s information sheet to all named tenants by 31 May 2026 or risk a £7,000 fine.
If you have concerns, speak to your letting agent or a professional specialising in property law to ensure you don’t get hit with a fine for non-compliance.


The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. It brought in new rules and requirements for private landlords in England, including the banning of no-fault evictions and fixed term tenancies. There are also new regulations around increases to rent.

Landlords and letting agents must send all named tenants a copy of the government-produced Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026, either digitally or in the post, by 31 May 2026. Failure to comply could lead to a £7,000 fine.

Read our guide to ensure you don’t fall foul of the rules and end up with a penalty.

The Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force on 1 May 2026, applies to all private landlords with rental properties in England.

Dubbed as the biggest shake-up in private renting for 30 years, the new rules bring sweeping changes to the rental sector, providing much stronger rights for tenants.

The onus is on landlords to understand and adhere to the regulations. Where a private landlord is using a letting agent to manage their rental properties, the responsibility lies with the landlord to ensure the agent is fully compliant with the law.

Landlords must send a copy of the government-provided Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 to all named tenants, either in the post, by handing it to them in person, or as a PDF attachment in an email or text message, by 31 May 2026. This sheet can be downloaded from the government website.

If you are a landlord and have a letting agent who manages the property on your behalf, then the agent must provide the information sheet to the tenant as well, even if you have also provided it.

Failure to do this on time, or in the specific way outlined by the government, could lead to a fine of up to £7,000.

In addition, if a landlord has never provided a written record of the tenancy agreement to their existing tenants, they must now do so in writing.

Landlords with concerns about compliance with the new laws are being urged to get in touch with their letting agent, or seek professional legal advice from a specialist.

To read more click on the link below:

The Renters’ Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026. It brought in new rules and requirements for private landlords in England, including the banning of no-fault evictions and fixed term tenancies. There are also new regulations around increases to rent.

08/05/2026

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-donkey-day/

World Donkey Day 2026 falls on Friday 8 May 2026. Discover the history, meaning, and ways to celebrate. Full guide.